Treasure Hunting Report: Her Finds/My Finds

Gemma (from the sweetest digs) and I like to DIY in tandem, so is it any surprise we thrift together too?  She was my good luck charm when we hit the thrift shops recently, because look at the goodies I scored!  (Of course, Hubby might call her an enabler, but I think "good luck charm" has a nicer ring to it).

The brush strokes on this hand painted planter from Japan remind me of Jen's paintings, especially this one.  The soft pink and brushed-on bronze/gold is so stunning.  This is definitely shop-bound when we re-open.  (I've kept the shop open a few more days because a couple items have just sold or are on hold for folks).

It isn't vintage, but this sweet lime green, cream and grey planter - with it's pretty little drips and "made in Germany" stamp - is sure to tickle my Mom's fancy.  Neither of us are big into plants (we murder them), but this would be perfect with a big, wide candle for her patio table.

I can't believe I even hesitated!  Thanks to Gemma for encouraging me to get these amber-coloured highball glasses.  Yesterday they were sitting on the dining room table, waiting to be photographed, and just glowing.  There were only seven (boo), but my Mom has one we thrifted earlier in the summer (yay) so now we'll have a set of 8 to list.

I love melamine trays.  We have a pair that we keep in the living room, that fit perfectly onto shelves in our wall unit, to make our ottoman more coffee table-esque when we need it (without losing the squishy comfort).  Now I have a spare one for bringing drinks to the patio, or when the living room ones get full of my books.  And you know I love mint (how original).

My Mom has a collection of these little dessert dishes and the matching glasses as well.  But someone else will get to enjoy these shop-bound gems.

I also found a super sweet red fondue pot with a pretty white design.  This looks like it was never used!  I'm sure someone will love this for their next party, or even just as a fun kitchen accessory.  Anyone know how an alcohol burner works?

UPDATE: My blog friend from Planet Powers let me know she had one of these that worked on gel fuel that is much easier to find these days!  Excellent to know!

This copper tray was a "maybe" until I saw it paired with the mint tray and then I was sold.  This would look gorgeous paired with mint or pale aqua glassware.

But it doesn't look too shabby with the amber glasses, either - they have the same quilted look.

I rarely find Pyrex (and am so jealous of folks who do), so when I spotted this pretty opal ware casserole, I didn't even care that it lacked a lid.  The turquoise wheat sheaf is simple and perfect.

This cute little jar (what the heck is it for? Salad oils?) came home with me because it's got a turquoise spout/lid and was made in West Germany.  I'm snobby about things being made in Europe.

UPDATE: Thanks to Brigitte, of The Baker's Daughter, I now know this is a sugar dispenser common in Germany.  Apparently many restaurants have them!  Thanks, Brigitte!

On a jar kick, I also bought these vintage spice jars with ochre & tomato (plus one cream) coloured lids.

My Mom has a bountiful collection of these chrome and bakelite trays by Glo-Hill Canada, which produced elegant serving ware from the 1930s-1970s, and now she will have one more.  Some pieces have glass inserts (like this version I found yard saling in TBay) but I'm not sure if this may have had one . . .

Just for kicks, I bought this martini shaker.  It isn't vintage but I've been worried about the lead content on some vintage martini shakers with metal strainer parts.  I bought a vintage one before and the metal started peeling, which gave me the heebie-jeebies.  Is that highly neurotic?  This one is 100% safe plus it has a sweet combo of colours.  Can't wait to mix a drink with Hubby.

I'm saving the best for last.  I found an amazing carving set, still in the original box (with original price tag).  I'm a sucker for bakelite and was totally sold by the drool-worthy bakelite handles.  They look like giant chunks of butter amber!

Seriously, did you check out the handles?  Here's a closer shot:

I don't think you'll truly appreciate my weird obsession with this set until you picture me crouching down with the camera, getting a photo from every angle . . . take one last look at how pretty they are.

They don't match, but happen to look nice with a few pieces, also with bakelite handles, that I bought at a yard sale in Thunder Bay.  The difference is the yard sale pieces were $1.00 each.  The carving set, from Value Village, was $19.99!  Ouch.  But it obviously brings me too much joy to have passed on.

That wraps up my sweet finds.  The only trouble with thrifting with someone who has great taste, is you might end up seeing them buy something you would have loved to have spotted first.  Check out Gemma's blog today to see her finds from the same thrifting adventure and try to guess which item I am pining for. 

Treasure Hunting Report: a Krenit & a Shmoo or Two

Thanks to Dana, from Mid2Mod, I know a wee bit about Krenits and Shmoos.

Krenit bowls were designed in 1953 by Herbert Krenchel, as pieces that would be durable but beautiful.  A result of Krenchel's knowledge as a materials researcher and civil engineer, the bowls were manufactured with an enamel interior.  They were available in eight colors and nine sizes, and between 1953 and 1966 (when the line was discontinued) over a million bowls were sold.  They have since been reissued in melamine.  Dana explains why the bowl was called "Krenit".

I spotted my vintage Krenit bowl standing in the line to pay at a church rummage sale.  I handed Hubby my loot (he's so handy) and darted from line with such fervor that everyone in the line watched me with fascination.  I snagged the bowl from under a teetering pile of other bowls and skipped back into line, where I plonked down my $2.00 (TWO BUCKS!) for this amazing piece.  A super size, this enamel bowl was made for me:  Black & white to match the kitchen and our houndstooth upholstery? Check.  Wait - matte black, to complement my matte black DIY chalkboard knife block?  Yes indeed-y.  Big enough to hold a Costco-sized fruit haul?  Check.  Inexpensive enough for Hubby not to swoon?  Check. 

Functional, beautiful and mid-century mod.  I couldn't be happier. 

My two shmoos were spotted in Thunder Bay, while we set up shop.  Unsurprisingly, they stayed there, on my Mom's bookshelf.  No worries.  These salt & pepper shakers fit nicely into a purse so they can come home to Ottawa after any visit to my hometown. Cue evil laugh.

The "Shmoo" salt and pepper shakers were designed by the late Eva Zeisel, an immensely talented ceramicist and furniture designer, who was born in Budapest, Hungary in 1906. 

Eva Zeisel; Photo Via Imprint

Zeisel wanted to make every day goods beautiful, and designed this anthropomorphized pair for Red Wing Pottery as part of the Town and Country line.  Because they resembled Al Capp's creature the Shmoo in his comic strip Li'l Abner, Zeisel's creation came to be dubbed "Shmoos".  Dana has the full story (and some fabulous images of the strip, too).



A whole shmoo village would be cute:

Photo Via Imprint

Red Wing Town & Country; Photo Via Mid2Mod

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Treasure Hunting Report: What We Keep

I planned to do a giveaway today, to thank you all for your support launching the Etsy shop (Minden Shop), but I haven't decided what delectable item to offer up.  We have already stock-piled sweet finds for when we re-open the shop in 2013 (remember, we close our doors August 15th) and I'm trying to figure out a giveaway goody that you'll all love.  While I think on that, and nurse an embarrassingly bad sunburn (it's like I'm new to this planet and didn't know what the hot red ball in the sky is), I thought I'd tease you a bit with some treasure hunted goodies that didn't made it into the shop.  Okay, and a few that did!

I spotted these Shelley England moulds at a rummage sale on my third time perusing a table.  Definitely need to be patient as a treasure hunter, and look under every rock.  I saw a set of 5 minis like this for sale here for 78 British pounds.  



The moulds live a Mom's now, and were perfect for displaying earrings for the shop, like these deep, dark Baltic amber earrings:

Or these Sputnik-inspired earrings (they come with a matching pendant, too):

On the subject of miniatures, I bought all five of these wee little jars (about the sizes of the jellies above) for $1.00!  I plan to spend way too much time painting them (with this project as my inspiration) for a play kitchen.

With play kitchens still on the brain, we scored some sweet melamine pieces.  Three different manufacturers, all the same shade of pea green (some are Melmac, some are not)  At one time, this colour was super hot.

Three (shame, not four) stainless steel egg cups for . . . you guessed it . . . a play kitchen.  Stamped Denmark.

Something for the real kitchen: my Mom found these gorgeous, lustre ware ramekins.  They are pristine, never used.  I have a feeling they might remain that way, as objects to admire only.  We have a few Fire King lustre ware pieces for sale in the shop, like this pair of sweet laurel bowls (thanks to my Grandma's treasure hunting skills). 

A pitcher perfect for maple syrup on lazy breakfast days.

We found this sweet, mid-century platter for my Mom.  It is the perfect bridge piece between her creamy, somewhat ornate everyday china and the stream-lined mid-century mod pieces she loves, because the colour perfectly matches her china but the style suits her other serving ware.  I made her keep it. 

There's more.  I'm still unpacking my loot from the drive home.  But you can see that we haven't kept the juiciest finds to ourselves.  What we've kept is cute and all, but our best goodies have gone into the shop, where I pine for them.   I'd actually really love to keep this turquoise and gold tiled tray we have for sale:

Or maybe this yellow Dansk butter pot.  I think it would be perfect in a kitchen just as an objet d'art.

  
These gold Regency-style wheat sheaf glasses are so glam, and then I found an even sparklier set.  So perfect for holiday parties.

But, we can't keep it all.  Hubby was suspicious of this whole Etsy "business"  and theorized it was a ruse to thrift and keep more.  I'm trying to prove him wrong!  Although, proof-reading this post, seems a lot of these goodies went to Mom's, huh? 

Have a lovely weekend, and happy thrifting.

P.S. Tell me what kind of prizes you like to win!  I'm overwhelmed with ideas, here.  Too much pressure.

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DIY Play Kitchen Tutorial

Drumroll please . . . because the play kitchen is done!  I'll show you, but you have to keep this reveal a secret until the end of May, when I can finally hand deliver this present to my little cousin, Camilla, who lives in Toronto.

 
We started with a $6.99 microwave stand from Value Village:

Before

We removed the  top shelf and added a piece of wood for support, which was screwed into the existing side panels.  There's still enough room for a little storage up there, but it's easier to access the "sink" and "element" this way.

We traced the hole for the sink (making it slightly smaller than the actual sink) and then cut the hole.  We started the hole with a spade bit and then cut it with a jigsaw.  Tip: make sure your sink, and sink hole, won't get in the way of, or damage, any magnetic catches for the doors, etc., that may be underneath.

We also cut the holes for the faucet and taps at the same time, using a spade bit for the faucet and a hole saw for the taps:

We removed the handles and hardware and gave the whole thing a coat of primer.  I lightly sanded and primed the wood handles that came with the unit as well - but you could replace them with something cuter (like vintage enamel).

Then we applied three coats of paint - the same paint I'm using in the basement.  Try the mis-tint section of your paint store for great deals on small quantities of paint if you don't have leftovers kicking around.  I painted the counter top white (oooo, "quartz"!) so the black "element," which is just a dollar store cork trivet painted black (using leftover paint again), would pop.  Here's a sneak peak:

Late in the game, I decided Camilla needed more counter space (who doesn't?).  Using the shelf we removed and some wood, plus a dowel, we made her a little shelf to the right of the unit.  We cut two triangles from the new wood then drilled an indentation with a spade bit for a dowel.  We slipped the dowel into the little dents we made, glued in place, and then screwed the whole thing onto the unit.  Finally, we screwed on the shelf.  Now there's a place for the tea towels!

We primed and painted some more.

Using silicon, we attached the sink and "element," then we installed the faucet.  It actually moves! 

Small cup hooks from Lee Valley were perfect for hanging teeny utensils from Ikea, and the little hooks from my Ikea Expedit Hack were just the right size for the mini pot holders!

We lucked out because my mom had spare Ikea legs, so we are able to replace the existing wheels with adjustable grey legs.

And that's it!  We went from this . . .

Before

To this:

One more before and after:

Before

After

 

I've been busy accessorizing, and trying to refrain from playing with it (I've been unsuccessful).  The accessories I DIY'd, plus the vintage Melmac, look so sweet.  And check it out: I scored a mini detergent bottle from a hotel:

I am so smitten with this kitchen. 

Although I hate that pink is limited to girls and boys are supposed to favor blue, I mixed in accessories in both colours in the hopes that both Camilla and her brother Jack will play with this kitchen.

We even sewed little Jack his own cowboy print pot holders, with tea towels to come (I sure love this print).  Once I buy Camilla her muscle car, I'll buy Jack some knitting lessons to counteract this manliness.

This photo helps illustrate the scale.  It's so wee:

Cost breakdown (not including applicable taxes):

• Microwave stand: $6.99 (included cute wooden handles that I painted)
• Faucet: $15.00 (with a bit of negotiating, bought from kijiji.ca)
• "Sink": $3.99 (it's actually a stainless mixing bowl from the thrift store)
• "Element": $1.25 (a cork trivet from dollarama)
• Wood for shelf brackets + dowel: $5.00
• Primer & paint: leftovers 
• Legs: Free! (Mom had them lying around)

Total kitchen cost, having paid the tax man (but minus accessories):  $34.65 

I figured vintage and DIY accessories were the only way to go.  In case you missed them, here's a summary of previous play kitchen posts:

• Vintage Melmac dishes are a fun, unbreakable, kid-sized dishware option
• Hand sewn tea towels in just the right size
• Teeny tiny matching pot holders
• Spray painted accessories for some colour
• More play kitchen inspiration

We also bought some utensils, pots, pans and play food from Ikea.  I'm hoping I have time to make some felted cupcakes before delivery day, so stay tuned.

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